Luxury Homefront

By Ilene Denton | March 1, 2009

Top of the Market A piece of Casey Key history—one of its original residences built in 1939—sold for $3.4 million after an original list price of $5.1 million, making it the highest-priced sale in Sarasota County in December. The charming Old Florida home at 1002 N. Casey Key Road has... Read more »

A piece of Casey Key history—one of its original residences built in 1939—sold for $3.4 million after an original list price of $5.1 million, making it the highest-priced sale in Sarasota County in December. The charming Old Florida home at 1002 N. Casey Key Road has four bedrooms, four baths, pecky cypress living room with fireplace and brick floors throughout. It is set on 1.6 acres of Gulf-to-bay property dotted with century-old live oaks and 140 feet of wide, sandy beach. Nancy Moore and Michael Gould of Michael Saunders and Company were the listing agents; Duane Henderson of Wagner Realty was the selling agent. Sales information provided by Kim Ogilvie of Michael Saunders & Company.

Great Value

If you’ve been hankering to build your dream home, check out the incredible bargains—up to 70 percent off—that John Cannon Homes has on several prime lots in his inventory. Two are in The Oaks; one, on the west side, backs up to the creek and is “the most gorgeous thing you’ve ever seen,” says Cannon. It’s offered at $199,000, way, way down from the original $729,900. Cannon also recently announced a promotion to build 10 custom homes for a remarkable $99 per square foot. “We partnered with our vendors, subcontractors and suppliers to offer 10 homes at basically below cost,” he told us. “We’re calling it our economic stimulus package. We said, ‘Let’s keep our crews busy, let’s get some rooftops up, let’s generate some excitement.’” Is it doing the trick? “The phone has been ringing off the hook,” he says, with commitments for three of the 10 homes at press time.

Market Watch

Roberts Point Circle is one of those private and beautiful Siesta Key waterfront neighborhoods that meander off Higel Avenue, and Casa Fiorenza, at 4136 Roberts Point Circle, is one of its crown jewels. Newly on the market at $12.5 million, the 13,789-square-foot home has six bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, three fireplaces, a home theater and 10-car auto salon (that’s garage to the rest of us). It’s set on Bayou Nettie, with a dramatic infinity-edge pool, outdoor kitchen and deep-water dockage. The zebrawood kitchen is a knockout. Joel Schemmel of Signature Sotheby’s International Realty is the listing agent.

GreenreportRubber-made flooring.

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Neighborhood watchHappy sailing in Siesta Isles.

The islands of Azure Way and Contento comprise Siesta Isles, one of Siesta Key’s most desirable neighborhoods, which is set on nearly four miles of waterways branching off the Grand Canal. “The appeal is to boaters,” says longtime real estate agent Betsy de Manio of Coldwell Banker, “and lovers of the Siesta Key island lifestyle. You can walk on the public beach in the morning, take your boat out in the afternoon and walk to the Village in the evening.” Most of Siesta Isles’ 295 homes were built from 1959 through 1961. Many have been updated and expanded, and a lot of new houses have replaced some of the original structures. The Siesta Key Isle Association is voluntary but strong. “They’re very interested in preserving the look of the neighborhood. They publish a neighborhood directory, and they sponsor potluck block parties,” says de Manio. Siesta Isles residents tend to be year-round, and many raise their families there, then downsize within the community when their nests empty.

Total number of property owners: 295 Total number of sales from 12/ 2007 to 12/ 2008: 8 Range of sale prices: $450,000 to $1,025,000 Range of square footage: 1,591 to 3,080

SAMPLE LISTING A 3,010-square-foot home set on the Grand Canal at 824 Edgemere Lane is listed at $895,000. The three-bedroom, three-bath residence was built in 1959 and rebuilt in 1993. Patricia Conti of Surfside Properties is the listing agent.

RECENT SALE A three-bedroom, canal-front home at 5419 Azure Way recently sold for $810,000 after an original list price of $1.1 million. Built in 1983, it has just over 3,000 square feet of living space. Shirley Dabringhaus of Sunset Realty was the listing agent; Sheryl Morris of Hunt Florida Real Estate was the selling agent. Previous sales: $100 in July 2000, $482,500 in July 1998.

MLS statistics courtesy of Betsy de Manio of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate. MLS records transactions and listings by members of the Sarasota Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service.